The earthquake of September 19 could have changed the DNA of Mexicans



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In September 2017, Mexico experienced an earthquake that knocked down dozens of buildings and killed hundreds of people.

On the morning of September 19, 2017, in Mexico City, an earthquake simulation was held in commemoration of the 1985 earthquake; as it has happened every year since then. Thousands of people left their jobs and schools (and some of their homes) to review emergency measures in the event of an earthquake. Nobody imagined at that moment that a few moments after a real earthquake, they would be put to the test of what was practiced at that time.

That day saw it all. Some, very little; They did not feel it so strongly, or they count. Many others saw their lives pass before their eyes and at one point they thought they were going to die. Others have seen buildings with people inside falling apart. Even many were trapped in the rubble and were saved alive hours or days later. The question is, how does this return to normal after that? And the answer is: she does not come back.

That's why; Humberto Nicolini Sánchez, of the National Institute of Genomic Medicine (Inmegen) began a project that aims to discover how this fact changed the DNA of Mexicans.

  The earthquake of September 19 could have changed the DNA of Mexicans

Post-traumatic stress after the earthquake could change the DNA of those who have lived [19659007] Nicolini Sánchez and his team began to analyze and compare people suffering from post-traumatic stress with those who were not affected. This in order to discover if there are differences in the epigenome.

According to the presentation of the project before Conacyt the severity of the event lived is correlated with the frequency of post-traumatic stress; and in fact that makes a lot of sense.

Let's start by clarifying what is post-traumatic stress. It is, in short, an anxiety disorder that can occur in people who have experienced trauma endangering their lives or those of their loved ones. The symptoms can last for years and affect your daily life ;

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<h4> In what way would the DNA of Mexicans have changed? </h4>
<p>  Scientists have explained this in themselves; traumatic processes do not change genes, of course. However; in some cases, there are proteins with the help of a chemical reaction; they could add a molecule called methyl (CH3-) in some parts of the genetic material </p>
<p>  What about this molecule? Well, it covers, so to speak, the genes and <strong> does not allow </strong> the cellular machinery to join them to reliably read them. We call this methylation and it is an epigenetic process: it is regulated by the environment. It does not matter that what is marked in the genes does not really change; So there are studies that indicate that the methylation profile and / or the amount of methyl molecules that DNA alters in people who have undergone or continue to experience post-traumatic stress. </p>
<p> ; unlike those who have never suffered it. </p>
<p>  Differences in methylation may, in fact, be concentrated in genes that receive cortisol; also called stress hormone. Cortisol is released <strong> (among other causes) </strong>; when the person is under stress. At that time, blood sugar levels rise and injects proteins, fats and carbohydrates into the metabolism, in addition to suppressing the immune system. </p>
<p>  In summary: we need cortisol for our body to function properly; but if you are constantly under tension, you are "over-relaxed" or upset; which can cause physiological problems. Scientists studying changes in DNA believe that these problems could help the symptoms of post-traumatic stress <strong>. </strong> </p>
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